Pam D. wants to know how she can persuade her horse to keep his head down during western pleasure classes as he has become more energetic and gets easily distracted by everything around him.
A horse that is more interested in observing its surroundings inside or outside the arena is not giving its full attention to its rider. Instead of being preoccupied with where the horse is directing its gaze, the rider should concentrate on getting the horse to focus on them. By accomplishing this, it will be observed that once the horse is attentive to the rider, it will no longer be concerned with its surroundings, allowing it to become more calm and responsive to the rider’s signals once again.
Horses possess both a reactive and a thinking side in their brains. The reactive side is utilized when a horse is energetic and not focused on its surroundings, which can be risky due to their high energy levels and lack of attention. On the other hand, we aim to encourage horses to use their thinking side, which entails being calm, attentive, and safe. To make a horse engage its thinking side, one should prompt it to move its feet in various directions – forward, backward, left, and right – and consistently reward even the slightest effort.
Before getting in the saddle, I always begin my training sessions by conducting groundwork with my horses. This involves directing their feet in various directions, such as forwards, backwards, left, and right, while I am present. The greater the extent to which you can make your horse move its feet, the greater level of respect it will have for you and the more it will engage its analytical thinking abilities. Once you are certain that you have successfully gained your horse’s focus and respect on the ground, proceed to mount the saddle.
Once you are on the horse, it is important to keep his mind engaged by working on transitions, softening, and suppling his body. These are key components to achieving collection. To practice suppling exercises, you can try Bending at the Walk, which involves asking the horse to bend his body in a circle around your inside leg while walking. Another exercise is Bending Transitions, where you trot or canter the horse and then pick up on one rein to ask him to bend in a circle around your inside leg at a walk. Additionally, you can work on Serpentines or trotting and cantering circles. By constantly making your horse move and change directions, he will be more focused on what you are asking him to do rather than what is happening outside the arena. Once you have his attention, you can ride on the rail and ask him to collect and carry his head level with his withers.
Ensure that you are cautious about the amount of grain you give to your horse. Many horses are fed excessively while not being given enough exercise, leading to an imbalance. If your horse displays excessive energy every time you ride it, there is a likelihood that it is receiving an excess of grain. By making appropriate adjustments to its feed and reinforcing discipline and focus, you will observe that your horse becomes more relaxed and attentive towards you.
Western Pleasure with Wade Black
With only a few weeks until the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the western pleasure event is bound to generate discussion as it is consistently criticized annually. Some individuals will argue that the event has significantly enhanced in recent years, while others will claim that there is still ample room for progress.
Just like with anything related to horses, we must continue with the show, and as exhibitors, it is crucial for us to be well-prepared and perform at our best.
GoHorseShow had a conversation with Wade Black, a former AQHA Professional Horseman and NSBA World and Congress Champion western pleasure trainer from Ohio, to gather his thoughts on ten actions you can take to enhance your performance in the pleasure pen at the Congress.
1) Make sure to steer clear of “Slow Ohio”.
There is no denying the fact that pleasure horses at the Congress are consistently perceived as being too slow.
The show is called “Slow Ohio” precisely because of that.
However, do not allow that to discourage or intimidate you.
Wade Black suggests that the western pleasure pen at the Congress may have a slower pace compared to other shows. He advises against altering your horse’s natural flow to match the slower pace. Instead, he suggests sticking to the pace that most accurately showcases your horse.
It is widely acknowledged that attempting to change things, such as your horse’s pace, at the Congress is ineffective. Therefore, the most suitable approach is to refrain from attempting altogether.
Display your horse in the same manner as you have always done and trust in your own skills and your horse’s agility.
Illusions are not effective.
In the world of horse shows, unlike for illusionists such as David Blaine and Criss Angel, judges possess the ability to detect any attempts of concealing information.
To illustrate, excessively tilting your horse to give the impression of movement.
Black stated that when a pleasure horse is using itself properly and driving with its hock, it will naturally have a cant to its hip. Black also mentioned that excessive canting can occur when a rider attempts to create an illusion of propulsion. This occurs because when a horse is over canted, it may visually seem to have more hock and drive than it actually possesses.
Judges are aware of this, thus envisioning over-canting your horse as comparable to cheating on an exam and subsequently being discovered.
The outcome will not be beneficial to you.
Black advises focusing on developing a smooth, rhythmic stride that moves seamlessly from the back to the front in order to achieve the authentic, desired movement of a pleasure horse, rather than attempting to fabricate an ineffective illusion.
Make sure to maintain control over the length of your rein.
Yes, this problem can still persist.
It is important for horses to demonstrate proficiency in performing with a draped rein, as this indicates to the judge that the rider is not required to provide assistance in the horse’s movements and the horse possesses inherent athleticism. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and not go overboard.
Black expressed the opinion that the rein length should be appropriately loose to display the horse’s ability to carry itself correctly without assistance. Reins that appear excessively long, potentially touching the ground or swaying from side to side, do not contribute to earning additional points; in fact, they are distracting.
The last thing you want to do in a pleasure class is to divert the judge’s attention from your horse’s movement.
Don’t allow yourself to be in this situation!
4) Also, the headset is included.
Although the era of the “peanut rollers” is believed to be over, it is still possible for horses to lower their heads excessively.
For Black, the headset holds great significance in terms of enjoyment.
He said that it is highly desirable for a horse to have a level head with the nose in a vertical position while moving smoothly. If a horse’s head is too low, it will not be able to properly coordinate its leg movements. Having a level head provides the horse with the greatest chance to move gracefully with its legs.
Consider the following: If a horse carries its head too low, it will become slump-shouldered and move downwards instead of forwards. This is not an ideal trait for a pleasure horse. However, if you aim for a level head and a straight nose, your horse’s movement will definitely enhance.
Remain unaltered both while on and off the rail.
In the 2015 Arizona Sun Circuit, the AQHA judges made a surprising request for exhibitors in the Senior Western Pleasure to show a distance of 10 to 20 feet away from the rail.
Since then, there have been fewer reservations about the concept of overtaking another exhibitor in a pleasure class, and a substantial amount of discourse has occurred regarding the optimal utilization of the arena.
Black stated that a pleasure horse ought to maintain a consistent appearance whether they are on the rail or away from it.
With the above in mind, exhibitors should also understand that it is not beneficial to show your horse’s full potential by bunching it up on the rail and avoiding passing another exhibitor.
Black advised pulling off the rail instead of staying too close to other competitors, and showing the same skills as if on the rail before returning to the rail when there is enough space.
Make good use of your warm-up time at the Congress by thinking step by step.
If you haven’t been informed, let me tell you that the Congress is absolutely insane. It is a challenging event to prepare your horse for as well.
The first and foremost thing, according to Black, is to have knowledge about your horse.
He advised being cautious when practicing at warm up pens due to the high possibility of overcrowding and chaos. If a horse is easily bothered by such conditions, it is recommended to choose a less busy time of day for practice. Additionally, he mentioned that the atmosphere at Congress differs significantly from a regular show, potentially leading to an increase in the horse’s adrenaline.
Black advises sticking to your usual routine as much as possible and riding when there is less congestion.
He said to get in the show pen at night in order to acclimate them to their surroundings.
